America is fat. Despite years of awareness campaigns, public service announcements and incessant ads for weight loss programs, obesity rates in the United States have remained at about 36 percent, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers examined both body mass index scores as well as height and weight data to determine obesity rates in 2009 and 2010. The bad news is that there has been no improvement in obesity rates since the last evaluation period (2003-2008). The good news, however, is that there has been no increase in obesity rates either.
Are you surprised? It seems over the past few years there has been increased media coverage of obesity issues. Shows like Biggest Loser, Celebrity Fit Club and Jamie Oliver's Food Revelation have made entertainment out of the issue of weight loss. We have a first lady in the White House who has made healthy eating and exercise her platform issues and online weight loss resources have made tools and education more accessible. It would seem that America has concocted a fairly decent recipe for healthier living. But the obesity rates tell a different story.
Are the wrong issues being addressed? Many angry blog responses point to the fact that change needs to happen in the home. Others point to the failure of the medical community to address the underlying medical issues that cause weight gain. Still others say that the plateau in obesity rates is an improvement in itself.
What do you think? Are we on the right track? If you are trying to lose weight, do you have access to the tools that you need? What needs to happen so that obesity rates in the U.S. decline?
